Theriva Biologics Receives Scientific Advice from EMA on VCN-01 Phase 3 Trial
Theriva Biologics announced the receipt of Scientific Advice from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency on the design of a Phase 3 clinical trial of lead clinical candidate VCN-01 in combination with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel standard-of-care chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of metastatic PDAC. The Company has previously reported the results of the VIRAGE randomized, controlled Phase 2b clinical trial, demonstrating that PDAC patients in the VCN-01 plus gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel SoC treatment arm demonstrated increased overall survival, progression free survival, and duration of response compared to patients in the control arm treated with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel SoC alone. Even greater increases in these parameters were observed in patients who received 2 doses of VCN-01 administered 3 months apart. VCN-01 has been granted Orphan Drug designation for the treatment of metastatic PDAC in Europe and the USA and Fast Track designation in the USA. CHMP advised that a potential future marketing authorization application for VCN-01 in metastatic PDAC could be supported by Theriva's proposed clinical development strategy comprising a single, high-quality, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial if it demonstrates a compelling benefit-risk ratio with VCN-01 plus gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel SoC compared to gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel SoC alone. The CHMP scientific advice included agreement on the proposed inclusion/exclusion criteria, primary endpoint, secondary endpoints, sample size, and the use of an adaptive design to potentially optimize trial timelines and outcomes. Importantly, CHMP recognized the increased improvement in overall survival of patients receiving 2 doses of VCN-01 in the VIRAGE study, and agreed with the proposed dosing of VCN-01 and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in repeated "macrocycles", enabling more than 2 doses of VCN-01 to be administered in the Phase 3 trial. They further suggested that more frequent dosing of VCN-01 could be considered. As previously reported, at November 10, 2025, Theriva had $15.5M in cash and equivalents, providing runway into Q1 2027 as the Company completes interactions with regulatory agencies regarding the PDAC and retinoblastoma programs and pursues partnerships to support VCN-01 manufacturing scale-up and conduct of the proposed pivotal clinical trial.
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- Strong Stock Performance: Theriva Biologics' stock rose 4.03% on Monday with a trading volume of 114.18 million shares, significantly exceeding the average volume of 15.61 million shares, indicating positive market sentiment regarding its clinical advancements.
- Clinical Trial Design Approved: The company received Scientific Advice from the EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, supporting its Phase 3 trial design for VCN-01, aimed at evaluating its efficacy in combination with standard chemotherapy, potentially offering new treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients.
- Survival Rate Improvement: In the previous VIRAGE Phase 2 trial, patients treated with VCN-01 in combination with standard chemotherapy demonstrated higher overall survival and progression-free survival rates, particularly those receiving two doses of VCN-01, further validating the drug's potential efficacy.
- Healthy Cash Position: As of November 10, 2025, Theriva had $15.5 million in cash and equivalents, providing a runway into the first quarter of 2027, facilitating interactions with regulatory agencies and scaling up VCN-01 manufacturing.

- Trial Design Approval: Theriva has received EMA approval for the Phase 3 trial design of VCN-01 in combination with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel for metastatic PDAC, which is expected to significantly enhance patient survival and treatment outcomes.
- Funding Runway Until 2027: Theriva's cash reserves are projected to last until Q1 2027, ensuring the company can complete regulatory activities and trial designs, thereby strengthening its competitive position in cancer treatment.
- FDA Meeting Scheduled: Theriva plans to hold an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA in H1 2026 to finalize the design of the Phase 3 trial, further advancing VCN-01's path to market.
- Potential of Multi-Dose Regimen: EMA acknowledged the significant survival improvement in patients receiving two doses of VCN-01 in the VIRAGE study, and Theriva plans to explore the application of three or more doses in the Phase 3 trial to achieve even better therapeutic outcomes.
- Trial Design Approval: Theriva has received scientific advice from the EMA regarding the Phase 3 trial design for VCN-01 in combination with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel for metastatic PDAC, marking a significant advancement in cancer treatment.
- Survival Rate Improvement: The VIRAGE Phase 2 trial demonstrated that patients receiving two doses of VCN-01 exhibited higher overall survival and progression-free survival, indicating the drug's potential in treating metastatic pancreatic cancer.
- Financial Support: Theriva anticipates having $15.5 million in cash reserves until Q1 2027, which will support regulatory activities and clinical trial execution, ensuring financial stability during critical phases.
- Future Planning: The company plans to hold an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA in H1 2026 to finalize the design of the Phase 3 trial, aiming to provide innovative treatment options for patients and further enhance its strategic positioning in cancer therapy.
Unusual Trading Activity: Theriva Biologics reported unusual trading activity in its common stock on October 24, 2025, but found no material developments or reasons for the market action.
VIRAGE Trial Presentation: The company recently presented expanded data from its VIRAGE trial investigating VCN-01 at the ESMO 2025 Annual Congress on October 13, 2025.
Company Overview: Theriva Biologics is a clinical-stage company focused on developing cancer therapeutics, including oncolytic adenoviruses and other treatments aimed at improving patient outcomes.
Lead Candidates: The company's lead candidates include VCN-01, SYN-004, and SYN-020, each targeting different aspects of cancer treatment and microbiome protection.

Market Performance: U.S. stock futures rose on Friday, continuing the upward trend from Thursday, driven by AI optimism despite a government shutdown. Major indices like the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all showed gains, with Nvidia reaching a record market cap of $4.6 trillion.
Investor Sentiment: A divergence in sentiment was noted between institutional and retail investors, with institutions selling off $4.7 billion in equities while retail investors took the opportunity to buy, indicating a potential cautionary signal for the market.
Economic Indicators: Key economic reports, including the U.S. employment report and services PMI, were delayed due to the government shutdown, while expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in October remain high.
Sector Highlights: Notable stock movements included significant gains for Actelis Networks and XCel Brands following contract announcements, while energy and consumer discretionary sectors faced losses.







